Ticket to Ride $10,000 Map Design Contest

Do you have what it takes to create the best Ticket to Ride map?

To celebrate Days of Wonder’s upcoming 10-year anniversary (April 2012), we’re holding our biggest contest yet. The $10,000 Ticket to Ride Map Design Contest gives you a chance to become world-famous and put your name on the map!

Will you be the fan who wins fame and fortune?

To find out, first download and carefully review the official rules and entry form on the Contest Page then get started on your Ticket to Ride Map design!

This entry was posted on Monday, February 14th, 2011 at 13:59 and is filed under Events, Games, News, Ticket to Ride. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Hi, sorry, but after reading all contest document, i couldn’t figure out that it is only a game design, or also a graphic design too? Should i make only the routes, cities and mission cards, or do i also have to make a beautiful map?

“should i make only the routes, cities and mission cards, or do i also have to make a beautiful map?”

My thoughts exactly. Very curious. I took a look at some seriously beautiful fan made maps that I know I couldn’t even come close to creating. If this contest is about “game-design/rules-set with a functional prototype map”, well then that’s something I could do. But otherwise I’d be foolish to even waste my time play-testing something that I know I couldn’t make look all beautiful and artsy.

You’re getting ahead of yourselves here, boys! Before you submit a playable version of the map, you have to submit an idea that DoW likes and wants to hear more about. A great idea with no picture will probably win out over a great picture with a lousy idea…

If your idea is chosen, you send in a ‘playable’ prototype and it seems that you make it as nice as you can. But again, they’ll be making your prototype their own (with their experts making the board) so if your idea is good, the beauty is less important.

I am wondering what you would consider a playable version? Do I have to give my design to a company or can I just make it on cardboard or what? Also, if I got really blessed and was asked to send in my game, would I need to send in the train pieces and train cards or just the board and route tickets?

Our focus is not on getting the prettiest map – though that won’t hurt your chances of catching our attention either!

We care more about playability, gaming appeal, originality, etc.. than about raw graphic design skills. Even if your board was the prettiest of them all, it’s highly unlikely it we would publish it as is anyway.

In terms of what we will want if we pre-select your entry, it’s a functional, playable map, set of destination tickets, rules, etc… We can use our own train cards and plastic trains however 😉

I don’t know that DoW will care if you use Ticket to Ride in the name of your game (since it’s their copyright) but using that name won’t help your map idea stand out very well…and since there will be hundreds (maybe thousands) of entries, you want yours to stand out!!

Hi, I have also been a little confused about some of the rules. First it says I have to Type my entry form. Can I use my own hand writing instead? And am I just sending in the entry form with my great idea for a map and game theme or am I sending the sketced out map or finished map with my idea.Also if I were lucky enough to get the opportunity to design a map, are we to make two complete games of our own cards, train pieces, etc?? Thank you very much, Jen

Also, I have made some for personal use, but these might involve trademark issues if they were to be published. Would DoW consider boards that could mean they need to do some legal leg-work, or should I stick to submitting boards without such issues.

These answers are clearly stated in the entry form and rules. From the entry form:

“Only send us your very best map: We are only accepting a single official Submission form per participant, with a single Map described on that form. If you have multiple ideas, it is up to you to decide which one is the very best and most likely to capture our attention and the players’ hearts.”

From the Official rules:
“In consideration for reviewing your submission, you hereby warrant that you hold, and assign and convey, all rights in the submission (including copyrights, trademark rights, and patent rights) to Sponsor free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or further payment obligations.”